Ex-justice to work with state auditor

COLUMBUS — Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Robert Cupp of Lima has landed a job as chief legal counsel with state Auditor Dave Yost. Both are Republicans.

The justice lost his bid for a second term on the bench in November, surrendering his seat to William O’Neill, a former northeast Ohio appellate judge who is the sole Democrat on the bench.

Justice Cupp, a former state senator, Allen County commissioner, and appellate judge, opted not to seek Gov. John Kasich’s appointment to a vacancy created at the end of last year by the resignation of Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.

That appointment instead went to Columbus appellate Judge Judith French.

Counsel Cupp will be paid $105,000 a year with Mr. Yost’s office compared to the $141,600 he was paid as justice.